Hydraulic installation



March 10. 1925. 1,529,634

F. NAGLER HYDRAULIC INSTALLATION Filed March 2 6 1923 2 Sheets-'Sheet l j my@ ,a as

March 10. 1925.

F. NAGLER HYDRAULIC INSTALLATION 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26 Patented Mar. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES u l 71,529,634, PATENT OFFICE-.-

FORREST NAGLER, OF WAUWATOSA, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 ALMS-CEALMERS I `MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F MILWAUKEE,

DELAWARE.

WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION- 0Fv HYDRAULIC INSTALLATION.

. .Application mea March 2s, 1923. 4seriai No. 627,591.

This invention relates in general to improvements in theconstruction and operation of hydraulic installations, and relates .more specifically to instrumentalities for improving the operation of hydraulic turbine or pump units operable under relatively low heads.

A general object of the present invent-ion is to provide simple and etiicient means for improving the operation of hydraulic installations.

It has been found diticult in hydraulic power installations operable under relatively low heads, and especially in so called siphon settings wherein at least a portion of the water delivered to the turbine rotor is caused to flow above the head water level, to maintain the inlet conduit completely filled with water. In most installations of this kind it vis necessary to provide special pumping au'xiliaries for the purpose of removing air from sealed pockets of the inlet conduit, in order to establish full admission of water to the rotor and to eliminate excessive entry of air. The present invention contemplates provision of simple means automatically operable by the normal turbine structure, for effectively filling the inlet conduit of a turbine -embodying a siphon settin and for maintaining the inlet conduit fi led during norinal operation of the turbine.

While the structure for admitting air from an external source to the central portion of a Vortex of liquid which is utilized to operate a hydraulic turbine, is here-in disclosed, similarly functioning structure forms part of what is claimed 4in a copending application Ser. No. 627,042, filed Mar. 23, 1923.

A clear conception of several embodiments of the present invention and of the operation of apparatus constructed in accordance therewith, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a p art of this specification in which like reference charactersv designate the same or i similar parts in the various views.

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through a low head Ihydraulic turbine installation embodying a rotor of the axialvfipw type having high specific or characteristicv speed.

Fig. 2 is a'central vertical section through a low head v hydraulic turbine installation embodying a rotor of the Francis type.-

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View of'a n ovell forln of air ejecting device applicable to either of the installationsv disclosed in u VFigs. 1 and 2.

Referring specifically to Fig. 1, the hydraulic turbine installation has a siphon setting and comprises in general an axial flow impeller or rotor'2 direct connectedl to the rotor of a generator by means of a vortical main shaft 9; a'penstock 3 for supplying water tothe turbine rotor 2 through a spiral inlet conduit 1 1 and through suitable flow control mechanism; and a tail-race 8 communicating with the discharge side of the turbine rotor 2 through a flow deeelerating device or draft tube 7. The spiral inlet conduit 11 is formed directly within the concrete turbine setting 14 and extends a considerable distance above the normal head water level in the penstock 3. The turbine inlet mechanism for controlling the delivery of water from the spiral conduit 11 to the rotor 2,- comprises .an annular series of stationary guide vanes 4 forming a speed ring structure and serving as a support for the generator 10; an annularseries of movable flow control guide vanes 5 adjustable about vertical axes by mea-ns of adjusting mechanism 15; and anannular vane free transition space 6 for changing the direction of advancement of thewhirling mass'of 'water delivered from the guide vanes 5 from radial to axial. The rotor 2 is located at the lower end of the transition space 6 and within the upper interior portion of a hollow pierl 23 A the lower' inner portion of whichforms the draft tube 7. The uppermost extremity of the spiral inlet conduit 11 is connected with the inner or central portion of the transition space 6 by means'of a pipe 12 having a. control valve 13 therein capable of varying the cross-sectional area of the pipe 12 and also capable of admitting air to 'the conduit 11.

Referring specifically to Fig. 2, the hydraulic turbine installation has a siphon setting and comprises in general4 a Francis type runneror rotor direct connected'to the rotor ot' a generator 17 by means of a vertical main shaft 16; a penstock 3 for supplyi1ig-.\vatcr to the turbine rol or 2() through tug aspiral inlet conduit 11 and through suitable flow control mechanism; and a tail-racc 8 communicating with the dlscharge side of 'the turbine rotor -20 through a lowdecelerating device or draft tube 7. The spiral inlet conduit 11 is formed directly within the concrete turbine setting 14 and extends a' considerable distance above the normal head water level in the penstock 3. The turbine inlet gate mechanism for controlling the delivery of water from the spiral conduit 11 to the rotor comprises an annular seriesl interior of 'a hollow pier 23 the lower inner portion of which forms the draft tube 7. The uppermost extremity of the spiral inlet conduit. 11 is connected with the interior of the upper turbine casing by means of a pipe 18 having a three way controlvalve '19 therein. The lnterior of the upper casing portion is l provided with'passages 21 commumcating with the interior of the rotor 20 and of the draft tube 7 by means of a series of ports 22. y

Referring specifically to Fig. 3, the uppermost extremity of the spiral inlet conduit 11 is connected with a pipe 12 such as shown inFig. 1, or with a pipe 18'such as sho-wn in Fig. 2. by means of an air discharge nozzle 24 the lower extremity of which forms a seating for a ball floatvalve 25. lThe ball float valve 25 is retained in proximity to the' seating 24 by means of a suitable cage,

' .and is adapted to be elevated into engagement with the seating 24 by the water rising Within the conduit 11.

d During Anormal operation of the unit. disclosed in Fig. 1. the inlet guide vanes 5 are adjusted by manipulation of the mechanism 15 to admit water from-the penstock 3 to the transition space 6. The guide vanos 5 produce a vortex of whirling water within the transition space 6, this vortex of Water being delivered to the rotor 2 and impart ing rotation t0 the turbine rotor, lto the main shaft 9 and to the rotorof the generator 10.` The Water delivered from the rotor 2 passes through the draft'tube 7xto i the tail-race 8@ The whirling vortex of water passing through the' transition space 6 creates a zone of reduced pressure along the 'inner wall of the transition space 6, this zone of reduced pressure extending from the upper delivery edges of the' guide vanes A5 and into the central portion of the draft.

tube 7. By virtue of the existence of this 'zone of reduced pressure within the transition space 6, and with the valve 13 setv to produce a continuous passage through the pipe 12, -any .air confined withinthe l-uppcr portion ofthe spiral inlet conduit' 11 is immediately withdrawn and j the water from the penstock 3 rises into the uppermost portion of the conduit 11. With the structure shown in Fi 1,the -How of air through the pipe 12 wi l be followedby'the delivery of a small quantity of Water direct from the conduit 11 through the pipe'12 to the transition space 6, but the de very of this waterthrough passages other thanA those between the guide vanes 5 is not objectionable since this AWater must subsequently pass throu h the rotor 2. .The control valve '13 normally serves to vary the cross-sectional area of the air ejecting conduit, and may also be formed to permltentrv of air to the conduit 11 when it is desired'to break the vacuum in the conduit 11. The' air and water thus delivered from theupper portion of the inlet conduit 1-1 into the transition space 6 merges with the whirling liquid,

passing the guide vanes 5 and passes through the .runner 2 and draft tube 7 4to the tail.

race 8.A

During normal operation of the unit disclosed in Fig. 2, the inlet guide vanes 5 are adjusted to admit water from the penstock 3 to the rotor 20, in any convenient manner. The guide vanes, 5 produce a vor-y tex of whirling water which is delivered through the rotor' 20 and imparts rotation to the shaft 16 and to the rotor of the generator 17. rlhe water delivered from the rotor 20 advances 4as a vortex of whirling liquid through the draft tube 7 and is eventually delivered to the tail-race 8. The whirling vortex ofw-ater creates a zone of reduced pressure adjacent to the axis of the installation, this zone of reduced pressure extending from the upper delivery 'edges vof the guide vanes 5 and downwardly into the central portion of the draft tube 7. By

virtue of the existence of this zone of reduced pressure adjacent to-theI central ver` tical axis of the unit, and with the control valve 19 properly set, any air which may be lconfined within the upper portionV of the and may also be formed to admitlair to the conduit 11 in order to .break the vacuum therein. I

With theautomatic airv control valve disclosed in Fig. 3, the rising water upon reaching the ba l --oat valve 25 automatically raises this valve and seats the same upon the area ofthe airejecting conduit or pipe 18,

seating 24 thereby preventing escape of 11 may readily be destroyed by proper adjustment of the control valve 13, 19.

I It will thus be notedthat with the present invention the normal turbine structure is utilized to 'automatically prevent undesirable pocketing of air in the sealed portion of the conduit 11 located above the turbine inlet gate mechanism and above the head water level. 'By thus. completely lilling the spiral inlet conduit 11, a sufficient supply of liquid to all portions of the turb inc gate' mechanism is assured and entry of excessive quantities of air to the rotor is eliminated. By utilizing the air control valve disclosed in Fig. 3, Waste of water is positively avoided and the air ejector passage is automatically closed when no air is available in the confined portion of the conduit 11. The air'ejector is conveniently applicable to existing installations as Well as to new units, and does not interfere with any rportion of the turbine mechanism.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the present invention to the exact details of construction and to the precise mode ofvoperation herein described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to' secure by Letters Patent: A

1. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor operable in a vortex of' liquid, means forming a sealed supply chamber segregated from and extending around the axis of said rotor,`and conduit means connecting the uppenportion of saidv chamber directly with the central portion of said vortex. I

2. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor, operable in a vortex of liquid, means forming a sealed supply chamber surrounding the axis of and extending above 'said rotor, and conduit means connecting the upper portion of said chamber directly with said' vortex adjacent to the axis of said rotor.

3. In a hydraulic'machine, a rotor operable in a vortex ofliquid, means for controlling the flow of liquid lto said rotor, means forming a sealed supply chamber segregated from said rotor and extending above said controlling means, and conduit means connecting said chamber 'directly with the central portion of said vortex without obstructing the liow of liquid.

4. Inv a hydraulic machine, a rotor operable in a liquid vortex having a zone of reduced pressure adjacent the rotor axis,

gate mechanism for producing said vortex and for controllin said rotor, means orming a liquid supply conduit communicating with the inlet opening of said mechanism and having a sealed portion extending above the top of the gate opening, and conduit means connecting said sealed conduit portion directly' with said the flow of liquid lto zone of reduced-pressure without obstructj.

ing the flow of liquid in `said vortex.

5. In a hydraulicmachine, a rotor operable in a liquid vortex having a zone of reduced pressure adjacent to therotor axis, an annular. series of guide -vanes for producing said vortex, means forming a liquid supply conduit rcommunicating with `the spaces between said guide vanes and extending above said spaces' to form a sealed chamber, and conduit means directly connecting said chamber and said zone without obstructing the flow of liquid in said vortex.

6. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor operable in a liquid vortex having a zone of reduced pressure adjacent to the` rotor axis, an annular series of guide vanes for producing said vortex and for controlling the flow of liquid to said rotor, means formingl a liquid supply conduit communicating with the spaces between said guide vanes and having a sealed portion extending above the top of said spaces, and conduit means connecting said sealed conduit portion directly with saidl zone of reduced pressure without obstructing the flow of liquid in said vortex. v

7. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor operable in a vortex of liquid, a source of liquid supply, means forming a sealed supply1 chamber segregated from and located above loo the level of liquid in said source, and lcony vortex without obstructing the flow of liquid therein. l

9. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor operable in a liquid vortex having a zone of reduced pressure adjacent the vortex axis, a

source of liquid supply, gate mechanism for producingsaid vortex and for controlling the :flow of liquid from said source to said rotor, means forming a liquid supply conduit connecting said source and said mecha; msm and having a sealed portion extending above the level of liquid in said source, and

'- conduit means connecting the upper part of able in a vortex of liquid, means for controlv ling the flow of liquid to said rotor, means forminga sealed chamber segregated `trom said rotor and located above said flow con- `trolling means, conduit means connecting said chamber directly with the central portion of said vortex without obstructing the flow of liquid therein, and means forautomatically vclosing said conduit means when the air ber.

12. In a vhydraulic machine,a rotor operable in a liquid vortex having azone of reduced pressure adjacent vthe rotor axis, a source of water supply, gate mechanism for as been removed from said-chain .p producing said voi-tex and for controlling the flow of li uid from said source to said rotor, means orining a liquid supply conduit connecting said source with said mechanism and having a sealed portion extending above thelevel of the .liquid in said source, conduit means connecting the upper with said zone of reduced pressure, vand' vmeans for automatically closing said conduit v means when the air has been removed troni said sealed conduit portion.

part of said sealed conduit portion 'directly 13. In a liydraul'c machine, a rotor oper.`

able in a vortex of liquid, means forming a sealed chamber segregated from said rotor, conduit means connecting the upper portion of said chamber directly with the central.

portion of said voi-tex to produce a vacuum in said chamberl` and ineans'for breaking said vacuum.

14. Ina hydraulic machine, a'single rotor operable in a vortex of liquid having a vertical central axis, a spiral inlet conduit sur rounding said axis'and having a sealed poi:- tion locatedl above said rotoi', and conduit means connecting the. highest portion ot' -said inlet conduit directly with the central portion of said vortex. I

15. In a hydraulic machine, a rotor, means for producing a vortex of liquid at the inlet side of said rotor, means forming a sealed chamber segregated from said rotor, and air extraction conduit means connecting said chamber directly with the central portion `oi y said vortex.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor 1s a Xed hereto.

FoRREs'r NAGLER. 

